If you compare memorable experiences, gorilla trekking in Uganda Vs Rwanda presents each visitor with various choices. Price, access, number of gorilla families, gorilla destinations available, trekking difficulty, and other factors are among these choices. For example, Uganda offers gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, both in southwest Uganda. Volcanoes National Park in northwest Rwanda is the only destination in Rwanda where you can see gorillas.
Descriptions of other choices include,
Price of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Vs Rwanda
For gorilla trekking to happen in either Uganda or Rwanda, each visitor must present a permit at the entrance. This permit costs money, whose figures differ in Uganda and Rwanda. In Rwanda, gorilla trekking is offered at approximately $1,500 per person. Meanwhile, Uganda offers each permit at about $800 person. This implies that gorilla trekking in Uganda is significantly cheaper than Gorilla trekking in Rwanda. But the Rwandese government does this to aim for luxury and more exclusive gorilla trekking experiences.
Permits for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Vs Rwanda
The governments of the respective gorilla destinations issue the gorilla permits. In Rwanda, the acquisition of a permit is done either directly through the Rwanda Development Board or through registered tour operators. Meanwhile, in Uganda, visitors buy permits strictly through registered tour operators. Another difference is that visitors have a maximum of about 96 gorilla permits available each day to buy in Rwanda. Uganda, on the other offers at least approximately 160 gorilla permits for purchase each day, relatively higher than in Rwanda.
Families for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Vs Rwanda
Rwanda currently shelters about 12 habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. Visitors to this destination track most of them every day. So in Rwanda, gorilla families to trek include Susa, Kwitonda, Umubano, Agashya, Sabyinyo, and Karisimbi, etc. Meanwhile, a remarkable 23 habituated gorilla families exist in Uganda. Also, visitors track most of them each day of the year. The available families include Mukiza, Rwigi, Mucunguzi, Katwe, Mubare, Nkuringo, Nyakagezi, Tindatine, Bitukura, and Rushegura, among others.
Reachability / Acessibility for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Vs Rwanda
From the respective capitals of Uganda and Rwanda, to reach the gorilla trekking destinations, you can use either the road transport or air transport. The distance covered to drive from Kampala to either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park is roughly 500km. Some visitors prefer the drive from Kigali to either Bwindi or Mgahinga. This is surprisingly shorter in comparison to Bwindi, the distance is about 170km, while Mgahinga is only about 133km from Kigali. Meanwhile, to reach Volcanoes National Park by road from Kigali, you must cover over 115km.
The option of air transport is available for people with limited time in either country. Rwanda, on the one hand, offers helicopter flights from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes National Park. A chartered flight to Musanze Airport takes only half an hour. In Uganda, scheduled flights from Entebbe International Airport to either Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrips take an hour and 15 minutes. After the flight to reach the gorilla destinations in either Rwanda or Uganda, you use ground transportation.
Difficulty of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Vs Rwanda
In Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers the more difficult trekking tours compared to the rest of the parks. Its forest is relatively denser than other parks, which requires the guide to clear vegetation along the path. The terrain in Bwindi is also muddy and very slippery mostly during the rainny season, offering more difficult gorilla trekking experiences. Additionally, Bwindi is steeper compared to Volcanoes National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, presenting quite a challenge in treks. The challanging trails in b oth Bwindi makes the Mountain gorilla trekking activity more adventurous and interesting in its own way perfect for challange lovers.
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is mostly done through bamboo vegetation. Such vegetation is spread out, hence less dense compared to Bwindi’s, making it easier for gorilla treks. Meanwhile, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is covered with bamboo vegetation that creates a less dense canopy. Yet, the terrain in this destination is steeper in various places compared to that of Volcanoes. Therefore, Rwanda offers easier gorilla trekking tours compared to Uganda, yet all adventures generally require an impressive visitor’s fitness.
Accommodation for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Vs Rwanda
Rwanda gorilla trekking starts at the Volcanoes National Park headquarters, situated in Kinigi. Nearby, numerous luxury accommodations exist for visitors to stay in during a gorilla trek. A drive to reach the trailhead for a gorilla trek, therefore, takes little time. Bwindi alone has 4 trailheads—Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Buhoma, situated quite far away from each other. Therefore, visitors must book accommodations close to the trailhead offered to them. Doing this helps avoid inconveniences as they drive to the trailhead.
Number of gorillas for gorilla trekking in Uganda Vs Rwanda
If you combine the total number of individual gorillas in Mgahinga and Bwindi, Uganda has half of the global totals. Bwindi alone has about 459 gorillas living in its forest, thus an increased chance to encounter one on a gorilla trek. Meanwhile, Volcanoes and Mgahinga, as part of the Virunga Conservation Area, shelter approximately 604 mountain gorillas. Volcanoes National Park alone has about 380 mountain gorillas, some of which are transboundary. Book with us now to get a chance and encounter one on one with the Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. while booking you should keep it in mind that the gorilla permits are on a high demand so it would be good to book your self one with an authoruised travel agency or comapny like ours.